Telly With Melly: The Simpsons, Empire, Say Yes to the Dress

Baseball’s Hall of Fame honours Homer at the Bat episode

Woohoo! Baseball’s Hall of Fame will celebrate The Simpsons on May 27, marking the 25th anniversary of the show’s classic Homer at the Bat episode.

Wade Boggs and Ozzie Smith, who voiced animated versions of themselves, will attend a roundtable discussion at the Hall of Fame. The episode’s executive producers Al Jean and Mike Reiss, as well as director Jim Reardon, executive story editor Jeff Martin and casting director Bonnie Pietila, will also appear.

In the episode first aired Feb. 20, 1992, devious millionaire Mr. Burns stacks the company baseball team with nine major league players — but only one ringer, Darryl Strawberry, actually makes it to the field. Hearing Bart and Lisa’s taunts from the stands (“You stink, Strawberry!” “Daaaaaarrryl!”), he sheds a single, silent tear.

Also in the episode, Ken Griffey Jr. is addicted to a nerve tonic and develops gigantism, Steve Sax is arrested for all the unsolved murders in New York City and Roger Clemens is hypnotized to think he’s a chicken.

The Hall of Fame’s legends game is scheduled for that afternoon at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Moore joins Empire

It seems Demi Moore is in an Empire state of mind. The actress will appear on the hip-hop drama in a multiple-episode role, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Moore will first pop up in the season 3 finale as a nurse with a mysterious past. In season 4, her storyline will become more entwined with the Lyon family.

Empire is currently on hiatus and will return with new episodes on March 22. The list of guest stars for this season includes Eva Longoria, Taye Diggs, Phylicia Rashad, Nia Long and Moore’s daughter, Rumer Willis.

Demi Moore [Getty Images]

And it appears Empire is expanding. The show’s co-creator Lee Daniels told The Hollywood Reporter in January that a spinoff is in the works.

“We’re in talks,” he said. “We just really had to build the foundation of Empire, so we then try to figure out what that B chorus is. It looks like it’s going to happen.”

A prequel centred on Taraji P. Henson’s character, Cookie, was bandied about in August 2015, but Daniels couldn’t confirm that would be the premise of the new series.

“It could be,” he said. “We really are in deep talks about it, and we’re having all these ideas thrown around to figure it out. But I can officially say that we will be having a spinoff.”

Say Yes star launches bridal collection

A breakout star from Say Yes to the Dress is saying yes to his own wedding-gown line. The Randy Fenoli Bridal collection will launch April 20 at Kleinfeld Bridal in New York, where Fenoli spent six years as the fashion director.

Each of the 25 pieces will range in price from US$1,500 to $3,000 and come in a wide variety of silhouettes.

“Bridal gowns have become much sexier and more fashion forward,” Fenoli told People. “There are more illusion necklines, back detailing and playfulness in bridal now. The industry is steeped in tradition, but I would like to think I am bringing something fresh and new to the space.”

Aside from Say Yes to the Dress, Fenoli has starred on the spinoff Randy to the Rescue and appeared on shows like Good Morning America.

The series wrapped up its 14th season last June, but a new three-hour special titled Say Yes to the Dress: 10 Years of Yes! airs tonight on TLC. It’ll look back at the show’s most memorable moments and feature Fenoli’s behind-the-scenes commentary, as well as celebrity appearances.

A homegrown version, Say Yes to the Dress Canada, ran for two seasons on W Network and last aired in February 2016.